2023 Election: Buhari told northern governors he had no preferred candidate — Gambari
Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, the former Chief of Staff to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, addressed claims regarding Buhari’s intentions about the 2023 presidential election in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He emphasized that Buhari did not endorse a particular successor, contrary to speculation that he misled key political figures like former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi concerning his preferred candidate for the presidency.
Gambari highlighted a significant meeting involving Buhari and 19 northern governors, who collectively asserted that the next president should emerge from the South. Upon their request to meet with Buhari to ascertain if he had designated a successor, Gambari recounted how he communicated their inquiry to the former president. Buhari’s response was clear: he categorically denied having an anointed candidate for the presidency.
Gambari underscored his firsthand experience during this meeting, asserting that he could only speak to what he had witnessed. When he posed the question about a potential anointed candidate to Buhari, the president reiterated his stance of not endorsing anyone for the presidential race. Gambari also encouraged Buhari to directly inform the governors of this position, which Buhari subsequently did.
Despite his insights regarding that particular meeting, Gambari acknowledged he could not comment on any private discussions Buhari may have had post-meeting, allowing for various interpretations of the situation. He pointed out that while he could attest to what happened in that official capacity, he was not privy to private conversations or negotiations that might have taken place later.
In the broader context of the 2023 elections, Gambari’s remarks shed light on the internal dynamics and discussions within the All Progressives Congress (APC). The eventual outcome was that both Amaechi and Osinbajo participated in the APC presidential primaries but ultimately lost to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who later became Nigeria’s president after defeating major candidates, including Atiku Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi from the Labour Party.
Gambari’s views provide a glimpse into the complexities surrounding succession discussions in Nigeria, illustrating how leadership dynamics can influence election results. His details suggest a lack of pre-determined directives from the presidency, thereby aiming to clarify misconceptions about Buhari’s role in the candidate selection process during that critical period leading up to the elections. This reflects broader themes of political ambiguity, stakeholder expectations, and governance within Nigeria’s political landscape.
